2014 Annual Water Quality Report

Water Resource and Environment Department

Submitted by: John Kalinczuk Water Resource Manager/Chief Operator 1 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. DRINKING WATER SYSTEM 3

3. STAFFING 5

4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS 5

5. WATER QUALITY MONITORING 6

6. TESTING PROGRAM 12

7. WATER MAIN BREAKS 12

8. NOTIFICATION PROTOCOL 13

9. WATER CONSUMPTION 13

10. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN 14

11. STAFF CONTACTS 14

12. POUCE COUPE 2014 REPORT 14

13. CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL 15

14. AVAILABILITY OF REPORT 16

15. DEFINITIONS 16

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 2 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

1. Introduction

The City of Dawson continuously strives to provide high quality drinking water to the citizens of Dawson Creek and surrounding area through accountable and responsible actions, water quality monitoring, system evaluation and proactive management of the community water supply and system.

Under the British Columbia Drinking Water Protection Act, all water purveyors are to provide to the public an annual report on the quality of their drinking water. Therefore; the City of Dawson Creek has amassed the following information to provide a better understanding of our drinking water.

The City of Dawson Creek operates and maintains a community water distribution system under the regulations of the Drinking Water Protection Act and the Regulations passed by the province in 2003 as well as adherence to the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. The City of Dawson Creek operates and maintains its operating permit under Northern Health No 09150.

“Under this regulation, the province has the authority to increase basic expectations around assessing water systems, maintaining certified operators and suppliers, and monitoring and reporting on water quality data. This legislation allows provincial drinking water officers to protect our water resources from contamination under drinking water health hazard standards. Additionally, drinking water officers will oversee a source-to-tap assessment of every drinking water system in the province to address all potential risks associated to human health.”

Drinking water is a multifaceted issue and much of the information in this report is technical. Every effort has been made to provide a format that is easily understandable. In this report, specific language will be highlighted and an explanation will be located at the end of the report in the glossary.

The following annual report for 2014 covers from January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014.

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 3 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

2. Drinking Water System

The City of Dawson Creek’s water supply originates within a vast area of watershed at the headwaters of Bear-Hole Lake. There is a dam at Bear-Hole Lake which captures precipitation. If required, the City can release from the dam to sustain flow within the river confluence. The City works closely with FLNRO during these times. The journey of water from Bear-hole Lake headwaters to the City of Dawson Creek water intake is about 172 km. Bear-hole Lake embraces approximately 1,356,850 m³ of water storage. The water shed catchment area is a diverse 2700 km² range of land that is influenced by many factors such as; recreational, ranching, forestry uses and most prevalent, oil and gas activity. Such activities bring challenges that can alter our water quality and flow should there be any incidents within that vast range of land. The range land within our Watershed is crown land with no ownership granted to any users. Bear- hole Lake is located within a provincial park boundary and requires certain items to be monitored and maintained as a permit holder. The Watershed is currently managed through a network consisting of the Oil and Gas Commission, the City of Dawson Creek, the Ministry of Environment and Parks Canada.

Access into the vast Watershed range is not restricted but through community outreach, meetings, and agreements, users are asked to obey all signs and to report any unsightly activity that is witnessed. Should there be any uncertainties an investigation would be initiated under the Water Protection Act.

Water is conveyed from the Arras intake through an immersible pumping configuration and a single pump can output a flow of about 160l/s. The pipe line from Arras travels to the Hansen Reservoir which holds a volume of 367,185 m3. This particular reservoir allows for further settling of turbidity and the turbidity is monitored through on- line measurement. Two pumps in series can then convey flow to the Hart Reservoir located at the height of land towards Dawson Creek. Between the Hansen Reservoir and the Hart Reservoir, there is a strategically placed booster station (Devereaux Booster) which when required, will be turned on to boost water pressure and flow. The Hart Reservoir gravity flows to the Trail Reservoir, with the combined storage capacity of 302,833 m3. From the Trail Reservoir, the water is distributed by gravity to the Water Treatment Plant. At the WTP, the water is treated through a multi-barrier approach to remove turbidity, color, organics, bacteria and other associated water parameters which could potentially make the water unsafe to consume. Before the water is dispersed into the water distribution system, sodium

hypochlorite is added for secondary disinfection. There are two additional sodium hypochlorite re-chlorination stations within the

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 4 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada. system to provide constant chlorine residual and to provide added protection to regrowth with the

water distribution system. Freshwater lakes and rivers, The treated water leaves the Water Treatment Plant via a system booster pump into the water distribution network. The ice and snow, and water is conveyed throughout the water network to three underground aquifers hold separate pressure zones. The existing water mains can convey only 2.5% of the world's water to a peak day supply of 120l/s (10,368m³/day). The water water. By comparison, in the distribution system fills in-town drinking water reservoirs saltwater oceans and seas (Parkhill Reservoir, Loran Reservoir and Pouce Coupe Reservoir) contain 97.5% of the world's which collectively contains a substantial amount of water water supply. totalling 12,635m³ of treated storage and are meant to act to “Nature Canada” provide system pressure during peak hour flows. Approximately 50% of the water reaches the citizens of Dawson Creek by gravity. The remaining water is provided by way of the booster stations. The pumping stations are strategically positioned within the City of Dawson Creek water system to provide adequate buffers and fire storage.

The City of Dawson Creek water distribution system has approximately 145 km of water mains that convey water to the people of Dawson Creek. Rural residents can access treated water through water filling stations which are stationed strategically within the City to allow for easy access.

All of the water system facilities are monitored on a 24 hour basis by the City’s SCADA system. When alarms are activated, the alarms call through the SCADA system to the operator on call. The operator will assess the call and make the appropriate decisions to rectify the issue.

Overview of Water System:

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 5 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

3. Staffing

Engineering, Water Resources and Environmental Kevin Henderson, AScT, Director of Development Shawn Dahlen, AScT, Director of Infrastructure John Kalinczuk, CTech, Water Resource and Environmental Manager/Chief Operator

Water Resource and Environment Operators John Kalinczuk Kerry DeVuyst Water Resource and Environment Senior Operator/Lead Hand Supervisor/Chief Operator Water Distribution IV Water Treatment IV Water Treatment III Water Distribution IV Wastewater Treatment III Wastewater Treatment II Wastewater Collection II Wastewater Collection II Cross Connection Control Inspector Kevin Shi Gordon Mielke Water Resource and Environment Operator BCIT Environmental Student (1st year) Water Treatment I Preparing to write OIT Wastewater Treatment I Water Distribution I

4. Regulatory Requirements

Northern Health Authority, which is directed through the Ministry of Health BC, is the regulating agency for water supplies. The Drinking Water Protection Act administers safe drinking water in the province of BC. This act enforces water suppliers to monitor their drinking water source, treatment, and water distribution system to ensure compliance with Drinking Water Protection Regulations. All reports and testing results are submitted to Northern Health. The City of Dawson Creek Water Resource and Environmental Operator performs water quality sampling at fixed locations throughout the city. Frequencies are as follows:

Sample Frequency Samples Taken Bi-weekly 8 Monthly 9 Quarterly 21

Water Quality Standards for Potable Drinking Water (Source: Drinking Water Protection Regulation (amended Reg.87/2011, May 19, 2011)

Standard Parameter No detectable Total Coliform bacteria per 100ml Total Coliform Bacteria No detectable Escherichia Coli per 100ml Escherichia Coli At least 90% of samples have no detectable Total Total Coliform Bacteria Coliform bacteria per 100ml and no sample has more than 10 Total Coliform bacteria per 100ml

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 6 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

All water systems that use surface water are required to maintain the following treatment specifications:

4 – log (99.99% removal/inactivation of viruses 3 – log (99.9%) REMOVAL/INACTIVATION OF Giardia cysts and Crytosporidium oocysts 2 treatment process, usually filtration and disinfection 1 NTU turbidity (maximum) in finished water, Dawson Creek Maximum 0.3NTU finished

5. Water Quality Monitoring

Drinking water quality is a function of source water quality, water treatment, and water quality changes after treatment. As a result, monitoring of drinking water consists of three components: source (raw) water monitoring, monitoring after treatment and monitoring in the distribution system. The guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are based on current published scientific research on health effects, aesthetic effects and operational considerations. Health-based guidelines are established on the basis of comprehensive review of the known health effects associated with each contaminant, on exposure levels and the availability of treatment and analytical techniques. Operational considerations are factored in when the presence of a substance may interfere with or impair a treatment process or technology (NTU interfering with disinfection) or adversely affect drinking water systems.

The highest priority guidelines are those dealing with microbiological contaminants such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Any measures taken to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants should not compromise the effectiveness of disinfection.

The City of Dawson Creek’s finished water quality sampling and testing program is set-up in conjunction with Northern Health. The City of Dawson Creek also extensively monitors its raw water source in collaboration with the Watershed Technician based on current sampling regimes.

To adequately represent all areas within our network, Northern Health has approved a sampling program of 16 samples per month (we test 8 sites bi-weekly). The water is regularly tested for its microbiological characteristics, specifically Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliform (Escherichia Coli), chlorine and turbidity.

When samples are being taken, the Water Operator takes a temperature and chlorine residual to ensure that the water quality has disinfection capability. The operators use a pocket chlorimeter at each location to test for free chlorine residual which is an indicator of the effectiveness of disinfection in the water distribution system.

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 7 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

5.1 Test Parameters

Total Coliforms – The presence of Total Coliforms in the water system are an indicator that the system is experiencing regrowth, or that bacteria infiltration of contaminants has occurred, or it has not been properly treated at the source. The Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) for Total Coliforms is 10 per 100ml. If the sample tests are shown to exceed the MAC, it is re- sampled to confirm the original result. If the second test result is above the MAC, the effected water main is isolated, monitored, flushed, and tested again. The response to another unacceptable test result would be to take the main out of service, chlorinate, flush, re-test the water main, and keep it out of service until acceptable results are obtained.

Fecal Coliforms (E.Coli) – Fecal Coliform in drinking water may indicate the presence of fecal contamination. Escherichia coli, one species in the Fecal Coliform group, most known for its link to the death of seven people and illness of over 200 others in Walkerton Ontario, in 2000, is a definite indicator of the presence of feces in the water distribution system. The MAC for Fecal Coliform is 0 per 100ml (<1). If an unacceptable test for Fecal Coliform triggers an immediate boil water order, the effect will stay in effect until the problem is isolated, identified, resolved and acceptable results are obtained. The City of Dawson Creek has never had a boil water order.

Heterotrophic Plate Count – The general bacteria population is estimated by means of a background colony count referred to as heterotrophic plate count (HPC). HPC is not a significant health concern; however, the presence of back-ground bacterial growth indicates that there is potential for pathogenic bacteria to thrive in the system should they be able to enter it. Excessively high HPC’s can hinder the detection of coliforms. The MAC for HPC’s is 500 colonies per milliliter. If a result indicates more than 500 colonies, the water is re-sampled and tested. Further testing indicating HPC’s above 500 colonies requires the water main to be flushed and monitored until a decreasing trend is observed.

Turbidity – Turbidity measurements relate to the optical properties of water. Poor turbidity is caused by suspended matter such as clay, silt, fine dissolved organic and inorganic matter, soluble colored organic compounds, plankton, and other microscopic organisms. Excessive turbidity not only detracts from the appearance and taste of water, it can also become host to waterborne bacteria. Our supply is surficial, and therefore subject to changes in quality due to weather changes. The water sometimes has slight taste differences as temperature fluctuates. Excessive high turbidity can also have a negative effect on disinfection. The unit used for measuring turbidity is the Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). The MAC for our treated water is 0.3 NTU. Turbidity is monitored at our river intake, Hansen Reservoir, raw water into WTP, all filter filtrate and finished water.

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 8 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

Daily Raw Water Turbidity into Water Treatment Plant Jan 16.0 Feb 14.0 Mar Apr 12.0 May 10.0 Jun 8.0 Jul

6.0 Aug Turbidity(NTU) 4.0 Sep Oct 2.0 Nov 0.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Dec Days

Raw Water Monthly Average Turbidity into Water Treatment Plant

8

7 7.2 6.7 6.6 6.5 6

5.7 5 5.2 4.7

4 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

3 NTU Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity 2

1

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 9 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

Daily Water Treatment Plant Finished Water Turbidity 0.35 Jan

0.30 Feb

0.25 Mar 0.20 April 0.15 May

Turbidity(NTU) 0.10 June 0.05 July 0.00 Aug 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Sep Days

Water Treatment Plant Finished Monthly Average Turbidity

0.2

0.17

0.15 0.16

0.12 0.1 0.1 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.06

0.05 0.05 0.05 Turbidity(NTU)

0 Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month NTU

Chemical Analysis

The Water Resource and Environmental Department takes samples 4 times per year from the water source for chemical analysis of common minerals and other chemical parameters such as hardness. Results are checked against the Guidelines for Canadian Water Quality. No tests conducted in Dawson Creek have shown any parameters to be outside the maximum allowable values in the guidelines.

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 10 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

3 Minerals commonly found in Dawson Creek Water

0.175 2012 February 0.15 2013 March 0.125 0.1 2014 February 0.075 2015 January 0.05 0.025

0 Concentration(mg/l) Raw Finished Raw Finished Raw Finished Aluminum Copper Lead

Minerals

Aluminum (AL) Operational Guidance <0.1mg/l for finished water Copper (Cu) Aesthetic Objective ≤ 1.0 mg/l Lead (Pb) Maximum Allowable Concentration 0.010 mg/l

Water suppliers are required to initiate treatment that would reduce corrosion in the distribution system and thereby limit the release of lead and copper. The Lead and Copper Rule was implemented to reduce exposure to lead and copper at the customer’s tap.

Chemical Analysis of Nitrates and Nitrites

0.6

0.4 2012 February 2013 March 0.2 2014 February 2015 January 0

Concentration(mg/l) Raw Finished Raw Nitrate Finished Chemicals Nitrite

Nitrate Maximum Allowable Concentration 45mg/l for finished water Nitrite Maximum Allowable Concentration 10mg/l for finished water

Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring inorganic chemicals in our raw water supply. Nitrates have potential to cause serious health issues in babies. Higher concentrations are expected where leachates from sludge disposal are found, from industrial discharge and where fertilizers are used. Nitrates are always higher in concentration than nitrites.

The Canadian Drinking Water Guideline is a system that provides aesthetic and human health based guidelines for drinking water quality. The results below show both the raw and treated water for the

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 11 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

City of Dawson Creek were significantly under the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) in the guidelines. The result averages are taken from the 2014 sampling program.

Parameter Source Avg mg/l Treated Water Avg mg/l Guideline MAC mg/l Antimony 0.0006 0.0006 0.006 Arsenic .0007 .0006 0.01 Barium .17 .16 1.0 Boron 0.02 .0010 5.0 Copper 0.0033 .0046 ≤1.0 Chromium 0.0010 .0010 0.05 Lead .0002 .0002 0.01 Iron .1044 .06 AO≤0.3 Manganese .0083 .0040 AO≤0.05 Zinc 0.0039 .0030 45.0 Selenium 0.00015 0.0020 ≤200 Sodium 9.13 11 ≤500 TDS 203 11 ≤500

Chlorine and temperature variations are shown in the graph below for both the raw water and treated water within the Water Treatment Plant. The temperature is directly impacted by the raw water reservoirs exposure to the changing seasons. As normally occurs throughout the summer months, the average temperature peaked above the guideline maximum of 15˚c. The highest temperature recorded for the treated water was 21.5˚c on July 16th.

Free chlorine residual prevents the growth of biofilm and creates a barrier against post-disinfection contamination. In 2014, the average free chlorine in the Water Treatment Plant finished water was maintained above 0.80mg/l. Free chlorine within the Water Distribution System was maintained above 0.2mg/l. Furthermore, out of 182 samples collected under our sampling program with Northern Health, zero samples tested for Total Coliform and E.Coli.

Chlorine and Temperature Variation for Raw and Treated Water 25 1.4

1.2 20 1

15 0.8

10 0.6

0.4 mg/l

Temperature˚c 5 0.2 0 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec ConcentrationFreeChlorine Months Raw Temperature Avg˚c Finished Temperature Avg˚c Chlorine Avg (mg/l)

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 12 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

6. Testing Program

At each of the eight sampling sites, water is tested and sampled every two weeks by a Water Resource and Environmental Operator. Samples are tested on-site for temperature and chlorine residual and results are recorded. A sample is placed in a sterile bottle, sealed, identified by location with time and date noted, placed in a cooler and delivered to the Northern Health Authority once all samples are collected. All results are tested and confirmed through Northern Health. If there is a positive result, Northern Health contacts the Water Resource Supervisor. Dependent on the positive test result, the City will institute one or more of the following:

 Further testing to confirm previous result  Water main flushing to target dead end areas  If it is determined that contamination is from an outside source, disinfection will be required  Initiate Boil Water Advisory if human consumption is at risk

Ancillary to the Northern Health requirement for the bi-weekly sampling of water within the water distribution system, the Water Resource and Environmental Department has initiated additional testing programs. Sites throughout the City of Dawson Creek are intermittently tested for temperature and chlorine residual. These sites are located on extremities of the system known to have low flow. Execution of this additional sampling ensures no biological re-growth is occurring with the water distribution system network. The health of the City of Dawson Creek’s water distribution system and public trust in it are of the highest priority. The Water and Environmental Department Operators work closely with Northern Health to ensure the programs in place are followed diligently, to ensure the citizens of Dawson Creek are provided with safe and healthy water.

7. Water Main Breaks

Most water utilities commonly experience minor disruptions such as valves not working, hydrants leaking and power outages occurring. Although these are not anticipated, these problems do occur and can usually be corrected with minimal disruption, with regular service being quickly restored. In 2014, City Staff responded to 50 water main leaks and breaks which included valves, curb stops and the water main. 7.1 Procedures for Water Main Repair and Tie-ins Water mains are disinfected whenever they are exposed to the atmosphere. To prevent possible contamination when working on a water main break, positive pressure is maintained throughout the task of the water repair. This practice sometimes makes it difficult to complete the repair and it may appear as though water is being wasted when conducting them, but it is a necessary step to protect the integrity of the system. Some repairs typically result from electrolysis holes, cracks or splits and are repaired with repair clamps. With the water system sustaining a positive pressure there is little or no chance for a contaminant to enter the system. The repair clamps and other materials are cleaned with 12% sodium hypochlorite solution. Upon completion of the repair, the main is flushed and returned back

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 13 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada. to service. There are occasions when the water main breaks and it is impossible to maintain positive pressure or to pump any groundwater below the invert of the pipe before isolation of the water line can be completed. Under these circumstances, disinfection, flushing and chlorine residual testing procedures are followed prior to re-commissioning the water main. The City of Dawson Creek adheres to the procedure set out by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard 6-651-92 regarding water main chlorination. This requires a disinfection concentration of 200mg/l for a retention time of 2 hours and after two hours of resting the disinfection concentration must be greater than 100mg/l. If these conditions are not met the main must be re-chlorinated using the same steps as identified above. After successful disinfection requirements are met, the water main is flushed until the disinfection concentration in <1.0mg/l. When this is maintained, the water main is restored to normal service.

8. Notification Protocol

Normally, breaks and disruption to water service are caused by conditions that can be repaired and re- instated quickly by City personnel without any risk to the public. However, sometimes situations arise that require extra care to guarantee that the integrity of the water infrastructure has not been compromised. The Water and Environmental Department ensures Northern Health and the Water Protection Officer are informed of any extraordinary situations that may impact the City’s water distribution system.

9. Water Consumption

The City of Dawson Creek per capita consumption for 2014 was 607l/capita/day including industry. Compared to other municipalities throughout Canada with a population between 5000-50000 people, the City of Dawson Creek is slightly above the average of 584l/capita/day. Some contributing factors that can cause high per capita consumption include undetected system leaks, illegal connections, high residential summer irrigation demand, high industry use, and inaccurate meter reading.

The City of Dawson Creek implements water conservation measures from May through September. There are four conservation measure stages with 1 being the least restrictive and 4 being the most restrictive. The four levels provide council a sliding scale when responding to drought conditions or other pressures on the system.

The following summarizes city consumption data for 2014:

 Total water delivered from WTP: 2,566,848m³  Population served: 12,700  Average consumption (all uses) 607l/person/day  Average daily amount: 7,100,000 liters = 7100m³  Peak day system demand: 10,470,000 liters = 10470m³ on May 2, 2014 (all uses include residential, commercial, industrial and institutional water demands)

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 14 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

10. Emergency Response Plan

The City of Dawson Creek has prepared a Potable Water Emergency Response Plan to ensure an adequate supply of clean water can be delivered to all citizens even in the event of an emergency or disaster. Water Quality disruptions and delivery may result from emergencies from natural disasters and accidents. The ultimate goal in the event of an emergency or disaster is to minimize all adverse impacts within the water system. This can only be attained by having a sound emergency plan and thorough communication co-ordination.

A copy of the Potable Water Emergency Plan is posted at the Water Treatment Plant and City Hall and is available for viewing by contacting Water Resource staff at 250-782-3114.

11. Staff Contacts

The following people are responsible for the management, operations and system maintenance of the supply and distribution of water:

Title Name Telephone Director of Infrastructure Shawn Dahlen 250-784-3600 Water Resource Manager John Kalinczuk 250-782-3114 Utilities Manager Gerritt Lacey 250-784-3623 For water quality issues please contact any of these staff members

12. Pouce Coupe 2014 Report The City of Dawson Creek and the Village of Pouce Coupe have had a water agreement since 1978 that was most recently renewed in 2014. The Village of Pouce Coupe is located 10 km south east of Dawson Creek. The Village of Pouce Coupe constructed a new above ground drinking water reservoir in 2010 to increase water quality and add more storage for the Village. The size of the reservoir is 750,000USG which is equivalent to 2835m³ and usually fills every second day based on the operating set-points to support light industrial and residential demands and to allow for the proper turn-over of water. The City strives to ensure, as per contract, that the Village of Pouce Coupe’s reservoir is maintained at an operating level of 50 – 70% of its maximum at all times. The City of Dawson Creek ensures the quality of water is both palatable and potable for the citizens of Pouce Coupe. The Water Resource Operators ensure there is always a chlorine residual present which is monitored on-line through the City of Dawson Creek SCADA system and also performs grab samples to verify the on-line chlorine analyzer is reading correctly. In 2014, the City of Dawson Creek added 2500 liters of sodium hypochlorite to the water to ensure a free chlorine residual > 0.2mg/l both at the reservoir and the furthest point within Pouce Coupe’s water distribution system. The lowest recorded free chlorine residual recorded in 2014 was 0.38mg/l. This was a one time reading. The free chlorine residual target is between .50mg/l – 0.75mg/l. After troubleshooting why the chlorine

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 15 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada. had reached this concentration, it was determined the chlorine injector had become plugged by way of crystal formation over top of the injection point reducing the amount of chlorine being injected into the water. As a result, this injector is now cleaned on a regular basis (bi-monthly). Fluctuation is dependent on reservoir turn-over and water temperature changes. During summer months, set-points for fill control of the reservoir can be manipulated to ensure water quality is not affected. As part of ensuring the water quality meets Northern Health Authority criteria, the City of Dawson Creek’s Water Resource Operators perform bi-weekly grab samples to ensure the water is free of bacteria and safe to consume. In 2014, there were 26 samples taken from the Pouce Coupe reservoir drain line and all were negative for both E.Coli and Total Coliform which were both <1.0 MPN (non- detectable). In 2014, the City of Dawson Creek conveyed to the Village of Pouce Coupe reservoir 68,722m³ of water. The average volume of water delivered per month in 2014 to Pouce Coupe was 5727m³. The daily average was 193m³. As the City of Dawson Creek and the Village of Pouce Coupe continue to operate under the current water agreement, the Water Resource Department will continue to ensure water is delivered in a safe manner and will continue to work on increased communication with the Village of Pouce Coupe.

13. Cross Connection Control Cross –connection occurs when you have the potential for non-potable water to enter our potable water system. Building sprinkler systems are an example of where cross-connections can occur. The water in these systems sits stagnant for long periods of time, separated from the potable water by a mechanical assembly. If that assembly fails, the stagnant water can enter the potable water. Cross-connections have the potential to cause an adverse effect on everything from the building it is in, to contaminating the water to the entire community. The City of Dawson Creek has a back-flow prevention program in place to prevent these situations from occurring. The program tracks all installed testable backflow preventers connected to a water service provided by the City of Dawson Creek to ensure they remain in proper working order. Some of the duties and responsibilities of the cross connection control program include: Facility hazard assessments, inspection of backflow preventers and installations, ensure proper records are kept with all correspondence, review and recommend policies, and provide public relations development. The goal of the program is to develop and assess the program in an ongoing and objective manner, ensuring clean safe water is delivered to the people of Dawson Creek. A contamination incident that can be prevented can protect people and communities from illness, disease and potentially death. Potable water sources are an important resource and each of us has the accountability and responsibility to help with the protection of that resource. Being proactive and not reactive to cross- connection or backflow conditions enables communities to ensure their water source and water within the distribution system is safe from such occurrences. Cross-connections observed in the field reinforce the importance of a team effort to maintain safe drinking water. To maintain an effective program, everyone needs to work together to ensure their water stays safe.

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 16 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

14. Availability of Report The annual Water Quality Report may be found on the City of Dawson Creek website at www.dawsoncreek.ca. If anyone has any questions regarding this annual Water Quality Report, please contact John Kalinczuk, Water Resource Manager at 250-782-3114. Definitions Glossary

Total Coliform: An indicator that the system is experiencing regrowth of bacteria infiltration of contaminant, or it has not been properly treated at the source

Escherichia Coli (E.Coli): Indicates the presence of fecal contamination

Free Chlorine: The quantity of chlorine remaining which had not been consumed in reactions with micro-organisms or organic matter

Palatable Water: Free of odour, taste, colors and turbidity

Potable water: Water that is safe enough to be consumed by humans. Maintenance of an adequate free chlorine residual will minimize bacterial regrowth in the distribution system and provide a measurable level of chlorine; therefore, should any unpredictable free chlorine level suddenly drop, detection of contamination would most likely be evident. Chlorine residual indicates that all bacterial matter has been treated and that the target levels are amounts that show that bacteria has been controlled. This does not result in unpalatable "taste", but is evidence that there is chlorine present. The Surface Water Treatment Rule requires a minimum disinfectant residual of 0.2 mg/L for water entering the distribution system and that a detectable level be maintained throughout the distribution system. The one time incident in 2014 reached a low of 0.38mg/l, still well within the safe parameters.

Alkalinity – the capacity of water to neutralize an acid or measure of how much acid can be added to a liquid without causing a significant change in pH. pH – expression of the acidity of a solution by the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration; pH is scaled 1 -14 with 1 being very acidic and 14 being very basic. 7 pH is neutral and indicates the presence of equal concentration of free hydrogen and free hydroxide ions

Aesthetic Objective (AO) confirming accepted notions of good taste

Bacteria – many different types of bacteria are found in drinking water. Most municipal treated supply of water is, in essence, free of all bacteria due to treatment techniques and the addition of Chlorine. Some bacteria have a cyst that is shell shaped and resistant to the addition of chlorine, therefore, other techniques are used such as Ultra-violet light which destroys their DNA ultimately diminishing that chance for them to reproduce

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 17 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

Crytosporidium – An intestinal parasite that is found in water. If the parasite is not properly destroyed through treatment process, it can cause nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain in humans

Giardia Lamblia – a common protozoan found in water imitative from animal droppings. This protozoan can cause contagious waterborne disease categorized by acute diarrhea. The specific protozoan is cyst forming and is very resistant to chlorine

Coliform Bacteria – a group of bacteria that are found in human and animal intestines as waste . These bacteria are considered indicator organisms to show the presence of such waste in the water with the possibility of pathogenic bacteria

Fecal Coliform – A sub group of total coliform bacteria distinguished in laboratory tests with elevated temperature. Used as an indicator organism for potential waterborne disease risk

Total Coliform – an indicator organism mostly of intestinal origin used to appraise the microbiological risks to drinking water

Escherichia coli (E.Coli) – are bacteria present in the intestine and feces of warm blooded animals. E.Coli are a member species of the fecal coliform group indicator bacteria

Inactivation – to destroy or ensure the loss of the ability to cause disease

Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines – Standards established by Health Canada that recommend the maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) for physical, chemical, microbiological and radiological substances in potable drinking water

Drinking Water Protection Regulation (DWPR) – defines the regulatory standards under the Provincial Water Act that must be met to ensure water is safe to drink and fit for domestic uses (residents in household)

Chemical Parameter – properties of water relating to molecular composition such as mineral and metal concentrations

Physical Parameters – often observed properties such as colour, taste, and odour

Chlorine – the chemical is widely used in water treatment and comes in many forms such as, gas, liquid (sodium hypochlorite) and solid (calcium hypochlorite)

Disinfection – a process used to eliminate any harmful substance or micro-organisms in water

Chlorine Demand – The amount of chlorine required to react with all dissolved and particulate materials and inorganic ammonia in the water to purify drinking water

Free Chlorine – the quantity of chlorine remaining which had not been consumed in reactions with microorganisms or organic matter. Referred to as chlorine residual

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment 18 “One drop of oil can render up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking” – Nature Canada.

Total chlorine – the total amount of chlorine in solution, which includes the chlorine demands as well as the residual chlorine

Chlorine Dosing – the quantity of chlorine added to the water expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l) or equivalent to ppm

Contact time – the time from when the chlorine is added, to the time it reaches the first customers

Contaminant – a substance that infects or worsens the quality and safety of water

Finished Water – Water that has passed through all processes in the water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers

Potable Water – water which is considered safe and fit for human consumption, other domestic uses and meets the requirements of Northern Health Association

Turbidity – a measurement of how cloudy or murky water is. Its measurement relates to the optical property of water that causes light to be scattered and absorbed in a cloudy sample, not a straight line, Turbidity is measured as NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units)

NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) – standard unit of measurement for turbidity in water. It detects the amount of light that is scattered by fine suspended particles in the water column

Hardness – a characteristic of natural water due to presence of dissolved calcium and magnesium

Bear Hole Lake

Annual Water Report 2014 Water Resources and Environment